Cigar lighter



Dec. 7, 1937. J. slNKo 2,101,602

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Sept. 7, 1935 FLC-4f f@ Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar lighters of the type used in automobiles, and more particularly to the kind known as the wireless type because a separable plug is provided which is first heated in a socket and may then be removed from the socket for lighting a cigar, cigarette or pipe.

Cigar lighters of this general type have been known for some time, and in fact some of these are disclosed in my co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 724,849 and 25,968, of which the present invention may be considered in some respects an improvement. Lighters of this type have usually, if not always, included a metallic socket into which the igniter plug was inserted and which included the connections for the plug. Usually the socket, being grounded to the car, formed one contact while the other was carried by and in the base of the socket and therefore had to be carefully insulated therefrom. The insulation of these parts always involved trouble and expense.

The present invention avoids this difficulty by forming the socket mainly of an insulating material so that no insulation of the inner terminal from the socket is necessary. The ground contact is formed by a metal ring which serves the additional purpose of securing the socket to the instrument panel of the automobile.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigar lighter of a simplified and yet thoroughly dependable construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a socket for a cigar lighter of an insulating material which does not need to be insulated from either contact of the lighter and which is nevertheless sturdy enough to hold a contact in its base and to withstand the force applied to it during use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive socket for a cigar lighter which is capable of being rigidly attached at its open end to the instrument panel of an automobile.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken with the drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of one form of my invention chosen for illustration, shown attached to an instrument panel of an automobile.

Fig. 2' is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modied form of socket.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but' of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a socket coupler ring as found in the structure of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of plug.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a different 5 form of clamping nut.

Although this invention may take numerous forms, only a few have been chosen for illustration. 'I'hey all include a socket member or a housing II, a coupling member I2 permanently secured thereto, a securing ring I3 screwed into said coupling member I2 and drawing the same against a suitable support, such as an instrument panel I4. The housing I I is preferably a cupshaped member molded from an insulating material such as that known commercially as Bakelite. The coupler I2 includes an internally threaded portion I6 and a flange I'I of which the portion I8 may be rolled over behind a shoulder I9 formed on the housing II, thus securing the two together as a unit. In Fig. 7 a different manner of attachment is shown, the coupler ring I22 being screwed into housing I I2. In any event the use of the coupler ring insures the secure attachment of the lighter to the panel, since there is no attachment strain on Bakelite threads. To prevent the housing I I from rotating within the sheathing I2, a lug 2l formed on the coupler l2 may be bent down into a recess in the housing II, as illustrated. The coupler I2 may desirably have a portion 23 of smaller diameter than the threaded portion I6, and in the form shown in Fig. 1 an inwardly extending flange 24 is provided. Extending through a hole at the base of the housing I I is a screw 26 which secures a cup or other contact member 21, as shown. The screw 26 may be swedged under its head to form lugs 28 engaging recesses in the housing II to prevent the screw from turning. The screw is drawn tight by a nut 29. A wire 3| connected to the battery of the automobile is secured to the screw by another nut 32.

The removable lighter plug may be of any suitable form, three forms being illustrated. In all three forms there is a handle 36, preferably translucent or transparent, to which is secured a sleeve 31 which may be formed of Bakelite, a metal, or any other suitable material. In the form shown in Fig. 1 there is screwed into the sleeve 3l a support member 38 having spokes 39 and a central hub 4I. To this central hub is secured a iiat Sided screw 40 carrying an igniting unit including a spoked cup 42 and a suitable resistance element 43. Slidably telescoping within the support member 38 is a contact ring 44 having r an outwardly extending annular flange 46 which may be at or curved as shown, and an inwardly extending annular flange 41 as il1ustrated. The

f Contact ring Y44 is urged toward or against the ignition unit cup 42 by a suitable spring 48.

When the plug of Fig. 1 is inserted into the socket it moves inwardly easily until the Yflange 46 strikes the flange 24, at which time further movement will be opposed by the spring 48. When it is desired to use the igniter, suiiicient pressure is applied to the handle 36 to press the major portion of the plug inwardly against the compression of the spring 48 until the rim of the" ignition element cup 42 comes in contact with the contact member 21. At that time a circuit is established from the wire 3| through the screw 26, the cup 21, the rim 42, the resistance ribbon 43, the center stud 40 (which is insulated from the cup 42), the support member 38, the spring 48, the contact ring 44, the coupler I2, and to ground at the instrument panel I4. When current flow has heated the resistance ribbon 43 to incandescence, its glow is visible through the handle 36, especially through the shoulder at the base thereof, and the plug may then be removed from the socket and the hot ignition element applied to a cigar or cigarette.

frictionizer could be used in any ligure. 1 and 2 the frictionizer comprises a ball Y5I 35" Y the plugV as it is inserted into the socket.

To normally retain the plug in the socket, un-

30', less Vit is drawn out intentionally, a suitable frictionizer is provided. Three forms of this frictionizer are shown-one in Figs. 1 and 2, one in Figs. 3, 6 andV 7, and the third in Fig. 5. Any In Figs.

pressed by a spring 52 through a hole 53 in the coupler I2 and against the side of the plug. The spring 52 may desirably be mounted in a screw cup 54. screwed into the housing I I, as illustrated.

IThe frictionizer in Fig. 3 comprises a coil spring 55, the'fconvolutions of which are of very small diameter. The spring has its ends joined to form an endless band and is stretched around the reduced portion 23 of the coupler I2 and between it and the housing II. The reduced portion 23 is #provided with a suitable slot 51 of such dimensions as to permit the spring 56 to draw itself p artiallyY therethrough, suiilciently to press against To prevent jamming, the spring 56 should not extend quite half of its diameter through the slot 51.

In Fig. 5 the irictionizer is formed by the reduced-portion 23 of the coupler I2' which is slotted, as at 6 I, the portions 62 adjacent the vslot being biased inwardly to press against the plug I `as it is inserted in the socket.

In Fig. 4, a slightly different arrangement of the other parts has been illustrated, in which the frictionizer of Fig. 5may be used, the spring being in the socket instead of Von the plug. Here the spring isidentied by numeral 66, and it may be positioned in the bottom of the housing I I, as illustrated, and may press either directly against the support member 38 of the plug or against a retaining ring 61, as illustrated. When the plug 65 .The support member 38 is of a different shape :than the support member 38 and has the rim 42 of the ignition unit separated therefrom only by a suitable layer of insulation 69, the sliding contact ring 46 being omitted. In this form of the invention the plug normally comesto rest against the spring 86, being held in place by the resilient 'I2' should be of such length and shape that the biased portions 62Y engage the support member 38 even when the plug is pushed into the socket as far as it will go. 1

In all forms of the socket the housing II may be provided with suitable VentilatingV openings.

In Fig. 1 openings 1I are located at the side of the housing, while in Fig. 4 openings 1l are located at the end of the housing.

The heatingribbon and carrying cup assemv bly, which may be considered a part of this invention, is preferably of a form intended Vto be standard so that it may be readily used on various forms of plugs. "I'his assembly, which will be described with reference to Fig. 1, may desirably include a cup 42' facing the base of the socket and a spiral lof resistance wire or ribbon 43 secured at one end to the cup 42 and at the other end to the head 16 of the bolt 45 which passes through the cup 42 and the hub 4I for securing the parts together. apertures in its bottom, which may be the spaces between spokes 18 forming the base of the cup. A collar 8D rests on a mica sheet 82 which in turn rests against the hub of the spokes 18 to keep the head 16 of the bolt Y4I)Y within the cup. The heating element 43 is electrically insulated from the base of the cup 42 including the said spokes 18, by the mica sheet 82, which sheet is cut to register with said spokes 18.

The cup 42 has one or more suitable In Fig. 1 this assembly is secured to the sup-Y Y port member 44 by the screw 48, and onthe back of the base of the cup 42 is another insulating washer 83'which may be formed of mica, against which there is a nut 84 which clamps the cup 42 and mica 82 against the collar 88. Another nut 85, also-screwed on the bolt 40, in turn clamps the nut 84; against the hub il or a spacer bushing, thereby rigidly mounting the cup 42 on the support member. In Fig. 4l the heating element assembly is secured to Ysupport member 3S as shown, and asprevously described..

In Fig. 6 a third form of plug has been illustrated. In this form a metallic sleeve 86, with rolled threads thereon, is screwed into the sleeve 31 of insulating material. A flanged metallic ring 92 and is secured to the cup 38 by the bolt il? on which the nut is threaded, as shown. The cup 42, the resistance element therein, the bolt i8 and the cup188 may together be considered the heaterassembly, although in a more narrow sense the cup 88 would not be a part of this assembly. With this form of plug the cup 42 ncrmally engages the contact cup 21, Yand the circuit is completed Vwhen the remainder of the plug pushed in'against spring 69 until the hanged ring I2; The circuit may be traced from the contact 21, through the cup 42 and the Aresistance elei ment. to the screw 48, through the cup 88, directly to the ring 81, or through the spring 89 and the sleeve-86 to the ring 81, and from the ring 81` through the coupler l2, to ground.

In assembling this structure the cup 88 is inserted through the ring 81 prior to attachment of cup iii to the cup 88. After attachment of cups 88 and i2 by bolt 48, the spring 89 is placed in the cup 88 and the ring 81 screwed into the sleeve 86. This forms a separate unit which may be secured in any suitable sleeve 31. It should be observed that this unit is quite similar to the unit in Fig. l, which includes the resistance element, cup 42, ring 44, support member 38, and spring 48, and the unit in Fig. 4 including the resistance element and cups 42 and 38. All of these units are in the nature of separate spring and igniter units, and in all of these units tightening of the nuts 85 and alinement of the spokes of the various members is facilitated by the flat sides of screw 48 which prevent rotation of the screw in the support member which has a correspondingly shaped hole. Alinement of the spokes is desirable to let light pass from the element when it is suliciently hot, to the translucent handle 36.

Both of the units including springs are characterized by the very desirable feature that the thrust of the spring is taken up entirely by metallic members, the expansion of the spring 89, for example, being limited by engagement of the flange 94 on cup 88 With ring 81 which is screwed into cup 85. In short, the spring 89 and 48 never exert any force on the threads of the bakelite sieeve 31. This is important, since threads in such members as bakelite sleeve 31 are not dependable for such purposes. Furthermore, with the structure of Fig. 6 it is not necessary to depend upon possible sliding frictional contact between the ring 81 and cup 88 for a satisfactory electrical contact. This is accomplished positively with the spring 89 in continuous engagement with the cup 88 and ange 9! of the sleeve 86.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is understood that I do not limit myself thereby, but limit the invention only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cigar lighter including a housing formed of insulating material, a threaded coupler secured at one end of said housing, an outwardly flanged ring screwed into said coupler for securing it to a suitable conductive support member, a conductor carried by the other end of said housing, a removable plug including a resistance element and extending into said housing through said ring, and means for electrically connecting said resistance element to said conductor and to said support member.

2. A cigar lighter including a housing formed of insulating material, a threaded coupler secured at one end of said housing, an outwardly flanged ring screwed into said coupler for securing it to a suitable support member, a conductor carried by the other end of said housing, a plug including an ignition element and extending into said housing through said ring, and means for connecting said conductor and at least one ci said coupler and ring members to said ignition element, said means including an inwardly extending ange said coupler and a resiliently mounted contact member on said plug engaging said iiange.

3. A cigar lighter including a cup-shaped housingof insulating material, a coupler for said housing secured to the Open end thereof, a securing ring screwing into said coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon and ext-ending through said ring into said housing, said coupler having at its outer end a portion of reduced diameter for engaging said plug.

4. A cigar lighter including a housing of insulating material, a coupler for said housing secured to one end thereof, a securing ring screwing into said coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon and extending through said ring into said housing, said coupler having a slot therein, and a tension helical spring surrounding said coupler so as to be resiliently drawn into said slot for engaging the side of said plug.

5. A cigar lighter including a housing of insulating material, a securing coupler for said housing secured to one end thereof, a securing ring screwing into said securing coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon and extending through said ring into said housing, said coupler having a portion of reduced diameter for engaging said plug, and a ball member carried by said housing and pressed against the side of said plug by a. spring also carried in a cup screwed into and supported by said housing.

6. A cigar lighter including a housing of insulating material having an outwardly extending annular shoulder at one end, a coupler within said housing secured to said end thereof by a flange extending around and rolled back over said shoulder, a securing ring screwing onto said coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon extending through said ring into said housing, said coupler having a portion of reduced diameter for engaging said plug.

1. A cigar lighter including a housing of insulating material having an outwardly extending annular shoulder at one end, a coupler within said housing secured to said end thereof by a flange extending around and rolled hack over said shoulder, a securing ring screwing onto said coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon extending through said ring into said housing.

8. A cigar lighter including a housing of insulating material having an outwardly extending annular shoulder at one end, a coupler within said housing secured to said end thereof by a flange extending around and rolled back over said shoulder and having a lug extending into a recess in said housing member for preventing relative rotation thereof, a securing ring screwing onto said coupler to clamp the same against a support member, and a plug having a resistance element thereon extending through said ring into said housing, said coupler having a portion of reduced diameter for engaging said plug.

9. An assembled head for a cigar lighter comprising: an igniter unit having afthreaded rearwardly extending conducting stern; a contact ring encircling said stem and having an inwardly extending flange providing a seat; a conducting compression spring having its front end resting in said seat; and a conducting support member impaled by said stern and forming a seat for the rear end of said spring, said support member having its hub portion dished forwardly to form a recess for a nut adapted to hold the support member on the stem.

of the rst mentioned member; a compression coil spring housed by said cup-shaped members so as to urge them to extended position; and a ring slidably mounted on the rst mentioned member and threaded to the second mentioned 5 member so as to limit their relative movement.

JOI-IN SINKO. 

